Groups ask Mo. lawmakers to spare them from cuts

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- A day after Gov. Jay Nixon proposed more budget cuts, officials from education, economic and cultural programs came to the Missouri Capitol pleading with lawmakers to spare them from more financial pain.

The Senate Appropriations Committee heard testimony Wednesday from a variety of people who said their favored programs sustained deep cuts in past years and they hope funding can at least be held flat for the 2013 budget.

Among those testifying were representatives of sheltered workshops for the disabled and early childhood parenting and education programs.

The Missouri Arts Council asked lawmakers for $3 million in the upcoming year to avoid what it termed a catastrophic reduction in its trust fund. Nixon's budget appears to recommend $600,000 for the Arts Council.